Abraaj Capital, the largest private equity firm in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region, has been voted “Middle East Private Equity Firm of the Year” by readers of the Private Equity International (PEI) magazine from around the world. PEI is recognised as one of the most respected and widely read publications for the private equity industry. More than 20,000 of its registered members voted for the Global Private Equity Awards 2005.
Commenting on the award for Abraaj, PEI said: “Now in their fifth year, the Global Private Equity Award delivers over 50 different awards to the private equity people and firms that are voted top of their class by their peers. Over 20,000 votes were cast online and, uniquely, voters continue to be unfettered by predetermined shortlists, nor are their choices reshaped by a panel of judges.”
The award marks a year of significant achievement for Abraaj Capital that closed the region’s biggest ever fund, the Abraaj Buyout Fund II, at $500 million. It also manages investments for the Abraaj Buyout Fund I, The Abraaj Special Opportunities Fund and the Abraaj Real Estate Fund.
Among the global award categories, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts co-founder Henry Kravis was voted “Private Equity Personality of the Year”, ahead of Terra Firma’s Guy Hands and Texas Pacific Group Head David Bonderman. “Large Buyout Firm of the Year” was The Blackstone Group while “Venture Firm of the Year” went to veteran firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, followed by fellow West Coast venture capital firm Sequoia Capital and European house Index Ventures.
About Abraaj Capital: Abraaj Capital is the leading asset management firm in the South Asia, Middle East/North Africa region based in Dubai. It has US$1billion of assets under management. The firm’s primary expertise is in private equity buyouts, strategic minority block positions in public enterprises and real estate investments within the region. The executive directors of the firm have a long history of working together and are associated with some of the landmark private equity transactions in the region such as the acquisition of Aramex, Inchcape Middle East, the first and largest leveraged buyout transaction in the region, and Jordan Aircraft Maintenance Company (JorAMCo), a privatisation by the Government of Jordan. For more information, visit www.abraaj.com
